Concentrator.



PATENTED JULY 5, 1904.

C. H. MUHLEMAN.

GONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 7, 1903.

H0 MODEL.

Patented July 5, 1904.

PATENT E icE.

CHARLES H. MUHLEMAN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CONCENTRATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,197, dated July 5, 1904;.

Application filed October 7,1903. Serial No. 176,151. (No model.)

ful Improvements in Concentrators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine designed to separate metallic values from gangue; and the object thereof is to provide a machine for that purpose which is practically continuous in its operation and which will save the very line gold, which usually goes to waste in the slime, as well as the metallic values which are ordinarily saved. I accomplish this object by the concentrator described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same with some of the parts shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of a fragment of the concentrator-pan of a modified form with a valve-gate shown in elevation and showing a different means for the discharge of the concentrates from that shown in Fig. 2. Fig. I

is a plan view of a valve'gate shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragment of the adjacent sides of the radial corrugations, showing the riffies on the sides thereof. Fig. 6 is a vertical crosssection of the adjusting-block and adjacent parts.

In the drawings, A is the concentrating-pan, which is in shape a circular pan, with the top surface of the bottom thereof preferably fluted or corrugated, said fiuting or corrugation being radial, a fragment of which is shown in Fig. 5. On the sides of each of the hollows are preferably secured riffies B, which do not reach quite to the lowest depression thereof, but leave a central channel between the rifiies for the passage of the concentrates to the center of the machine, as hereinafter explained.

In the center of the pan is secured the feedtube C, having outlets in which are secured pulp-discharge pipes I), which carry the pulp to the outer edge of the rifiies. Surrounding the lower part of the feed-tube and attached thereto, preferably being cast integral therewith, is the gangue-outlet tube E, having ports F therein, which permits the gangue to flow out of the pan into the tube and thence through the discharge-pipes Gr, which open out of the gangue-tube and pass through the bottom of the pan and discharge the gangue into trough H, having a spout H, which discharges the gangue into a suitable conduit, (not shown,) which carries it away from the machine. Below the bottom of the ganguetube is the concentrate-chamber I, which is in communication with the-interior of the pan through ports J. This concentrate-chamber is provided with a discharge-tube K, which discharges the concentrates into trough L,

from which they may be removed when desired. To the bottom of the concentratingpan and at the center thereof is affixed a shaft M, the top of which aids in forming the concentrate-chamber. This shaft passes clownwardly through a bearing N, and the lower end thereof terminates within a socket O in the adjusting-block P, which adj usting-block is slidably mounted in the balance-wheel R, which is rigidly mounted on shaft S. BearingN is provided with a ball-raceN at its upper end within which shaft M is enlarged at J, so that the shaft rests upon and is supported by the balls T in theball-race. This bearing, the concentrate-trough, and the gangue-tr'ough arepreferably cast integral and are secured to the timbers U of the frame, to which are also secured the central cross-timbers U, which provide a bearing for the shaft S. Secured to the balance-wheel is bearing V, through which passes rod WV, being revoluble, but not longitudinally movable therein and having an operating-Wheel WV, which rod passes in threaded contact through adjusting-block P. This adjusting-block is provided with a dovetail lug P, which works in a dovetail groove R in the balance-wheel. ShaftS is provided with a pulley X, by means of which tube through the discharge-pipes D, which carry it to the outer side of the rifiies. At the same time power is applied to rotate shaft S, and adjusting-block P is moved so as to bring the lower end of shaft M eccentric to shaft S. Now as the balance-wheel revolves it carries the lower end of shaft M around with it, thereby imparting to the concentrator-pan a retary gyratory motion which causes the pulp to slosh over the corrugated surface of the pan, and thereby cause the heavier or metallic values thereof to settle to the bottom of the pulp upon the riflies, which catch and hold the same and allow the gangue to pass over them. These metallic values gradually work down and out of outlets J into the concentrate chamber, from which they pass through discharge-pipe K into the concentratetrough. The gangue being lighter passes through ports F into the gangue-outlet tube, from which it passes through the ganguedischarge pipes G into the gangue-trough H, from which it discharges through spout H. Should the ore slime, the slime will be carried to the top of the gangue, and in order to save the fine gold contained therein I secure to the top of the pan a depending cloth screen Y, preferably made of flannel, which passes downwardly to a little below the outlet-ports of the gangue-tube. This screen is removably secured to the top of the pan by screws Z, so that when the screen is as full of fine gold as it will reasonably'hold it may be removed and another screen put in its place and the gold washed out. It will thus be seen that I have provided an efficient concentrator of simple construction and operation that will save all of the metallic values of the ore.

It will also be seen that in addition to the gyratory movement of the pan it revolves slowly. This rotary motion is caused by the frictional engagement of the lower end of the shaft in the socket in the wheel, which causes the shaft to revolve and with it the pan. With some ores it is desirable to prevent the revolution of the pan. I accomplish this by attaching to'the concentrate-pan a catch Q,

(shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) having arms Q, which straddle the end of the concentratedischarge pipe, and thereby prevent the pan from revolving. (Shown in Fig. 2.)

Should it be desired to operate my concentrator upon the pulp in a dry state, the same is fed into the feed-tube through pipe (0, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) with a suitable quantity of compressed air, and a cover 7), also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, is placed upon the top of the concentrator-pan to prevent the air from escaping out at the top. The operation is then the same as when the pulp is fed into the machine in a wet state.

- In Fig. 3 I have shown a slight modification of my concentrator. In this form I dispense with the concentrate-chamber and in the place thereof I provide outlet 0, having dischargeports (Z, which ports are held normally closed end pinion 7a, which pinion is adapted to be engaged by the curved rack Z, mounted upon balance-wheel R and to be completely revolved thereby, thus permitting the concentrates to pass out of the concentrator-pan as the ports 9 in valve-gate (a register with ports (Z. These concentrates fall into the trough in while the gangue passes out of the dischargepipes G, which may be connected by a suitable hose (not shown) with-the gangue-dump.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a concentrator a concentrator pan mounted upon a shaft; rifl'les in the bottom of said pan arranged in radial rows; and means to give said pan a rotary gyratory motion comprising a bearing for said. shaft intermediate its ends, in which said bearing said shaft is revoluble; a revoluble wheel having a socket into which the lower end of said shaft projects, said socket being at one side of the center of said wheel.

2. In a concentrator a concentrator-pan having the upper surface of the bottom thereof corrugated by radial corrugations; a shaft secured to the bottom of said pan; means to give said pan a rotary gyratory motion comprising a bearing for said shaft intermediate its ends, in which said bearing said shaft is revoluble; a revoluble wheel having a socket into which the lower end of said shaft projects, said socket being at one side of the center of said wheel.

3. In a concentrator a concentrator-pan mounted upon a shaft; a feed-tube; pulp-discharge pipes secured to said feed-tube and terminating near the outer edge of said pan; a gangue-outlet tube having ports therein; gangue discharge pipes secured to said gangue-tube and extending through the bottom of the concentrator-pan; a concentratechamber below said gangue-tube in communication with the said concentrator-pan; a discharge-pipe leading out of said concentratechamber; means to give said concentrator-pan a rotary gyratory motion comprising a bear ing for said shaft intermediate its ends, in which said bearing said shaft is revoluble; a revoluble wheel having a socket into which the lower end of said shaft projects, said socket being at one side of the center of said wheel.

4;. In a concentrator a concentrator-pan having the upper surface of the bottom thereof corrugated by radial corrugations; riffies on the sides of said corrugations; a shaft secured to the center of said pan; and means to give said pan a gyratory motion comprising a bear ing for said shaft intermediate its ends, in which said bearing said shaft is revoluble; a

revoluble wheel having a socket into which the lower end of said shaft projects, said socket being at one side of the center of said wheel.

5. In a concentrator a concentrator-pan having the upper surface of the bottom thereof corrugated by radial corrugations; a shaft secured to the bottom of said pan; a feed-tube; pulp-discharge pipes secured to said feed-tube and terminating near the outer edge of saidpan; a gangue-outlet tube having ports therein; gangue-discharge pipes secured to the bottom of said gangue tube and extending through the bottom of the concentrator-pan; means to discharge the concentrates from the concentrator-pan; means to give said concentrator-pan a rotary gyratory motion comprising a bearing for said shaft intermediate its ends, in which said bearing said shaft is revoluble; a revoluble wheel having a socket into which the lower end of said shaft projects, said socket being at one side of the center of said wheel.

6. In a concentrator a concentrator pan mounted upon a shaft; a feed-tube in said pan; pulp-discharge pipes secured to said feed-tube and terminating near the outer edge of said pan; a gangue-outlet tube having ports there- .in; gangue-discharge pipes secured to said gangue-tube and extending through the bottom of the concentrator-pan; means to discharge the concentrates from said concentrator-pan; a cloth screen secured in the upper portion of said pan around the ganguetube and extending downwardly therein and having the bottom thereof terminating on a plane which passes below the discharge-outlets of the gangue-tube; and means to give said concentrator-pan a rotary gyratory motion comprising a bearing for said shaft intermediate its ends, in which said bearing said shaft is revoluble; a revoluble wheel having a socket into which the lower end of said shaft projects, said socket being at one side of the center of said wheel.

7. In a concentrator a concentrator-pan mounted upon a shaft; a feed-tube in said pan; pulp-discharge pipes secured to said feed-tube and terminating near the outer edge of said pan; a gangue-outlet tube having ports therein; gangue-discharge pipes secured to said gangue-tube and extending through the bottom of the concentrator-pan; a concentratedischarge pipe from said concentrator-pan; a catch secured to the concentrate-receptacle having arms passing on each side of the free end of said concentrate-discharge pipe; means to give said pan a rocking motion.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 1st day of October, 1903.

CHAS. H. MUHLEMAN.

WVitnesses:

G. E. HARPHAM, LIZZIE HARTWELL. 

